Israel says one soldier killed and several injured in clashes following latest strikes in Lebanon

Israeli officials close to Netanyahu say the Likud leader has no intention to give up positions in Lebanon and are engaged in negotiations with the US following the announcement of an initial deal with Iran to halt hostilities. The Israeli military announced on Thursday that one of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon the day before, in an incident that also wounded seven soldiers. Master Sergeant Alexander Filin, 29, "fell in combat", the military said in a brief statement, adding that an officer, a reserve officer and a reserve soldier were moderately injured. A combat non-commissioned officer, two reserve soldiers and a female reserve soldier were lightly injured, the military added. The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday meant to end the war which broke out in Tehran on 28 February, with fighting halted on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Israeli media reported that Israel was engaged in backroom negotiations with the United States in an effort to maintain their presence in Lebanon for what they say are operations needed to protect Israeli territory from Hezbollah threats. Iran has, however, warned on Thursday that Israel’s continued presence in Lebanon would “nullify” its deal with the US, which has taken months of intensive diplomatic efforts and mediation to broker. Lebanon was drawn into the conflict when Iran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on 2 March in support of Iran. Since then, thousands have been killed in daily Israeli attacks, despite a fragile truce being in effect between the two sides, brokered by Washington. An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed one person on Thursday, according to Lebanese state media, hours after the United States and Iran signed an agreement to end the Middle East war. "An enemy drone targeted a car" in the Kfar Tebnit region, killing one person and seriously wounding another, the official National News Agency (NNA) reported. Lebanon earlier said Israel's massive campaign of airstrikes and ground invasion has so far killed more than 3,800 people. Israel's side saw 31 soldiers and one civilian contractor killed since it launched its ground invasion in Lebanon. Beirut says over 10,000 others have been injured in the attacks, while more than a million people have been internally displaced across the country. The United Nations has repeatedly called for an end to strikes on Lebanon, warning that the unfolding situation has created a dire humanitarian crisis in a nation already reeling from years of economic decline and energy and telecom shortages.